Seminole Teacher to set sail with ARMADA Project
Article published on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 |
SEMINOLE – On July 28, Heather Judkins, a teacher at Seminole High School, was expected to participate in a research experience as part of the ARMADA Project.
Judkins will be aboard the NOAA ship McArthur II. She will be conducting research to estimate the abundance and understand the distribution of dolphins and whales off the coasts of Oregon, Washington and California. The program called ORCAWHALE stands for ORegon, CAlifornia, WAshington Line-Transect and Ecosystem.
This is Judkins’ second research experience through the ARMADA Project. Last year, she participated in a similar expedition called the Stenella Abundance Research Line Transect and Ecosystem (STAR-LITE), which was an Equatorial Pacific Dolphin Abundance Study.
The ARMADA Project, funded by the National Science Foundation, now in its sixth year, gives K-12 teachers the opportunity to actively experience and take part in ocean, polar and environmental research and peer mentoring. Master teachers develop ways to bring their newfound knowledge, including scientific data, methodologies and technology into their classrooms. Teachers also have the opportunity to mentor a teacher in their district who is new to teaching science.
In June the 10 participating master teachers gathered at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography to participate in the URI Office of Marine Program’s ARMADA Project training. The teachers worked with Office of Marine Programs staff to prepare for their research experiences, which included standards-based pedagogies, mentoring and coaching strategies and investigations of advanced ocean science content and resources.
Throughout the summer, fall and winter, teachers will be taking part in ship and field research experiences in the Arctic, Antarctic, Bering Sea, Galapagos Islands, Australia, Argentina and Pacific Ocean.
|
Article published on Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |
